Whoops! Looks like it’s time for a refresher course in potty training 101. You might feel frustrated when your puppy has an accident, especially if you have successfully housebroken it.
Many dogs have setbacks in potty training, but there are ways to help get house training back on track.
Regressing in potty training means your puppy backslides in the potty training basics. Your pup has more frequent accidents in the house, whether urinating or pooping.
Cleaning up after your dog is unpleasant for pet parents, especially if there is carpet in the house. It also makes the dog feel bad.
What is puppy potty training regression?
Common explanations for puppy potty training regression include brain development, small bladders, and stress.
Puppy brains are still growing
Puppies are learning a lot: potty training, crate training, basic commands, and their family’s daily routines.
Like children, puppies don’t have great memories, and sometimes, all the new things they learn become disorganized.
Dogs aged four months to one year often have potty training setbacks. This is similar to human adolescence when our brains grow quickly, and we may act out more.
Young puppies, not unlike human teenagers, benefit a lot from a consistent structure and positive reinforcement. If you stopped using your dog’s crate, this is a good time to resume crate training.
Providing adequate supervision can help you catch your dog’s signals that they must go out.
Submissive peeing
Between dogs, peeing is a sign of submission.
If you’re too forceful or mad at your puppy, it might pee to calm down a potentially scary situation.
Alternatively, if you add a new dog to the house, your pup might try to appease it.
Puppies need more bathroom breaks
Adult dogs have larger bladders than puppies, so young dogs need more chances to go outside and relieve themselves. The amount of time between potty breaks directly relates to your dog’s age and size.
Most dogs can wait six to eight hours between bathroom breaks, but you may need to let puppies out five or more times a day. Small puppies especially may need more trips outside.
Create a potty training schedule. If your pup knows it can depend on frequent trips outside, an accident indoors is less likely.
Use positive reinforcement
Potty training is a crucial aspect of raising a puppy, and it can be frustrating when your furry friend starts to regress in their training.
But using positive reinforcement techniques can help you get back on track.
Use verbal praise
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding desired behavior with praise or treats to encourage repeating that behavior.
Whenever your puppy successfully goes potty outside, give them lots of verbal praise, such as saying “good job” or “good boy/girl.”
Your pup will quickly learn that going outside equals getting praised by their favorite person – you.
Give treats
In addition to verbal praise, treats reinforce positive behavior during potty training.
When your pup goes potty outside, reward them with a small treat immediately after they finish their business.
Just like verbal praise, this helps them associate going potty in the right place with something positive.
Stress and anxiety
Puppies experiencing potty training regression may be suffering from separation anxiety or another new stressor. Consider new life factors that could negatively impact your dog’s mental health.
Have you moved into a new house? Is there a new member of the family or a new pet? Are there uncommon loud noises (i.e., fireworks or a baby crying)?
If so, try to find ways to help your furry family member adjust to the new situation. Lots of exercise, CBD treats, and stimulating toys can be helpful for an anxious dog.
A stressful situation can also lead to your puppy becoming much more stubborn, which can cause potty training backslides; Dog Academy offers a puppy potty training guide.
Recognize signs your dog needs to go out
Here are some tips to help you identify cues your puppy needs to go outside.
Watch for restlessness
If your puppy starts pacing, moving around more than usual, or seems unable to settle down, it may be a sign that they must go out.
Sniffing and circling
Puppies often sniff or walk in circles to find the right relief spot. Watch for this behavior.
Whining or barking
Many puppies vocalize when they need to go outside. If your puppy starts whining, barking, or making other noises, it could be their way of communicating that it needs to go outside.
Scratching at the door
If your puppy approaches the door and scratches at it, it likely understands that this is how to get outside. This behavior is a clear sign that it needs to go out.
Pawing or staying near the door
If your puppy stands by the door or nudges it with their nose, they usually want to go outside. This is a straightforward signal that shouldn’t be ignored.
Timing
Pay attention to your puppy’s routine. take them out regularly after meals, naps, or play sessions. By anticipating their needs based on these patterns, you can help avoid accidents.
Learning their postures
Each puppy has its own “potty position.” When your puppy is ready to go, note how it stands or squats. These physical cues can help you react quickly.
Training cue
Consider teaching a command or using a bell by the door. With consistent training, your puppy can learn that ringing the bell means they need to go outside.
Tips for fixing potty training regression
Clean up prior accidents well
Anyone who’s ever taken a dog for a walk knows that dogs love to pee on things. By marking areas with their scent, dogs are asserting dominance.
They’ll often pee on the same areas to strengthen their claim on a specific territory.
So, if your dog messes indoors, be sure you deep-clean the area and use an enzyme cleaner to remove odor.
If your dog can pick up urine odors, that could encourage the canine instinct to continue marking that spot.
Stay positive and calm
Scolding or punishing dogs for having an accident indoors is never the way to go.
This can cause increased anxiety and stress in your dog, which could exacerbate the issue.
Instead, use positive reinforcement tactics, such as treats and praise, when your dog does something right, like going to the bathroom outside.
If you think your puppy is peeing to communicate submission, try calmly walking away from the situation instead of showing disapproval.
Be consistent and patient
If you’ve successfully potty-trained your puppy once, you can do it again. Consistency is critical, and you may need to reestablish your basic routines.
Take your puppy outside to go potty at the same time every day. These times can be in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, dinner, and before bed.
Let your dog out before breakfast and dinner so it associates using the restroom outside before earning a scoop of kibble. Use a feeding schedule to keep meal times consistent, and ensure your dog has fresh water.
Taking your puppy to a dedicated potty spot outside can also help.
Your dog will quickly learn to identify specific trees or patches of grass during walks. This will help them associate going outside with taking potty breaks.
Use positive reinforcement
Potty training is a crucial aspect of raising a puppy, and it can be frustrating when your furry friend starts to regress in their training.
But using positive reinforcement techniques can help you get back on track.
Use verbal praise
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding good habits with praise or treats to encourage repeating that behavior.
Whenever your puppy successfully goes potty outside, give them lots of verbal praise, such as saying “good job” or “good boy/girl.”
Your pup will quickly learn that going outside equals getting praised by their favorite person – you.
Give treats
In addition to verbal praise, treats reinforce positive behavior during potty training.
When your pup goes potty outside, reward them with a small treat immediately after they finish their business.
Just like verbal praise, this helps them associate going potty in the right place with something positive.
Hire a dog walker
If you think your puppy’s accidents are related to extended time indoors, consider hiring a dog sitter or dog walker to let your puppy out during the day.
This is especially important for dog owners who work long hours. If you have to leave your dog for extended periods, offer other options for taking it out.
Your puppy must have frequent bathroom breaks. Even adult dogs should never go for eight hours without a trip outside.
When to call the vet
While dog potty training regression is pervasive, rule out potential medical issues.
If a housebroken, otherwise healthy older dog suddenly has frequent accidents indoors, it’s worth calling the vet.
Incontinence can be a symptom of a bladder infection, kidney problems, diabetes, parasites, canine cognitive dysfunction, also known as canine dementia, or other medical conditions.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) commonly cause indoor urination, especially for female dogs. Luckily, while UTIs are uncomfortable, antibiotics usually cure quickly.
If you take your puppy to the vet and learn it is perfectly healthy, you can feel confident that the potty training woes are not linked to an underlying health issue.
Focus instead on reestablishing your puppy’s routine and providing extra bathroom breaks.
You might consider keeping a journal to track when your puppy has an accident; it can help identify patterns contributing to the problem.
Be consistent
Consistency and patience are crucial in potty training your puppy.
Consistency means sticking to a routine and approach that works for your puppy.
This includes taking them out to potty regularly, immediately after meals, naps, and bedtime.
Always use the same door to go outside and the same designated potty area. Being patient is equally important.
Remember that accidents will happen, and it’s essential to remain calm and consistent in your training efforts.
It’s normal for puppies to have setbacks, and reacting with frustration or anger may exacerbate the issue.
Positive reinforcement, such as praise and treats when your puppy goes potty outside, will help them understand what behavior is expected of them.
Remember that every puppy is different; some may take longer to grasp potty training than others.
By staying consistent and patient, you can help your puppy get back on track with their potty training.
Stay positive
Staying positive and patient is essential when potty training your puppy.
Your puppy can pick up on your emotions, so maintaining a positive and patient attitude will help create a supportive environment for successful training.
Positive reinforcement techniques, such as verbal praise and treats, will encourage your puppy to repeat the desired behavior of going potty outside.
Conversely, scolding or punishing your puppy for indoor accidents can cause increased anxiety and stress, worsening the potty training regression.
Being patient is equally important. Remember that accidents are part of the learning process, and it’s essential to remain calm and consistent in your training efforts.
Puppies may have setbacks in their potty training, but you can guide them back on track with patience and positive reinforcement.
By staying positive and patient, you can create a nurturing and encouraging environment for your puppy to learn and succeed in potty training.
Puppies are like sponges; they absorb everything around them but don’t inherently understand the rules of their new environment.
Potty training can be challenging and requires guidance, consistency, and, above all, patience. It’s essential to remember that puppies are still learning to control their bladders and bowels, and accidents are bound to happen.
Puppies thrive on consistency, so it’s crucial to set up a schedule for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks. This routine helps the puppy understand when and where it is expected to relieve itself.
Every puppy is different; some may catch on quickly, while others might take longer to grasp the concept of potty training.
If you feel frustrated, remember that consistency and positive reinforcement will yield better results over time.
Celebrate small victories, like when your puppy successfully goes outside, to maintain motivation for both you and your furry companion.
Final thoughts on puppy potty training regression
The bottom line is that puppy training isn’t easy, and dogs may regress at some point.
While indoor accidents are annoying, remember that your pup isn’t doing it intentionally.
Buy an extra strength cleaner with enzymes and a bag of your puppy’s favorite treats. Always praise and reward your dog when he does what you want.
Positive reinforcement training techniques are more effective than yelling and punishing your dog.
Don’t get frustrated. Just get back to the basics and start the potty training process again. Your dog will get back on track in no time.